Food notes: May 29, 2013

Taste of ParkersburgThe Taste of Parkersburg featuring food from local restaurants and beers and wines will be held from 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday at the Blennerhassett Hotel, on the corner of Third and Market streets.This event features West Virginia farm-to-table foods, wines from around the world, craft beers, local artisans and live music.Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the door and include a complimentary wine glass. Call 304-865-0522 or email carrie@downtownpkb.com.Lavender FairThe West Virginia Herb Association's Annual Lavender Fair will be held at Fish Hawk Acres in Rock Cave from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. June 15. The event features instruction and demonstration on how to grow, cook, craft and use lavender.Admission is free, and lunch is available for a fee. Call 304-364-5589 or 304-842-6385 or visit www.wvherb.org.Winning videoWest Virginia University student Ashley Jones recently won a $10,000 culinary arts scholarship for a cooking video she created. The scholarship is for Escoffier Culinary Academy in Boulder, Colo. In the video, she demonstrates how to make pierogies.

Jones is a 2009 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley. View her video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ss95ECFR28Y.Cooking competitionThe East End Bazaar Country Roads Cook-Off is seeking cooking teams to take part in a cooking competition, featuring local foods and recipes, from noon to 2 p.m. June 29 at the East End Bazaar and is an official event of FestivALL 2013. Ten slots are available for cooking teams of one to three people to compete for awards, including cast iron cookware and gift cards from area restaurants,Contestants may choose to cook an appetizer, salad, dessert, entrée or side dish. The main ingredient must be regionally available. The dish should reinterpret or adapt a traditional recipe.Judges will evaluate and award the top prize, but the public may vote for a People's Choice Award.

Entries and a $20 reservation fee are due June 14; the reservation fee will be refunded at the event when the team registers to compete. Competition is limited to 10 contestants and space will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.More information about the Country Roads Cook-Off is available at CharlestonEastEnd.com or by contacting the office of Charleston East End Main Street.Reach Julie Robinson at julier@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1230.